︎cuteocracy
n.— «We are living in what a friend of mine calls “the cuteocracy,” where the cutest person, place, or thing wins. Realism is out—unless it’s the hyperconstructed reality of Survivor—and the supernaturally ugly aesthetic of the X-Files has gone the way of presidential candidate Ross Perot. Perhaps it’s unsurprising that, as the United States takes a dark political turn with its unceasing war on terrorism, people are hungry for sweetness and light.» —“Cuteocracy: The Apotheosis of Cute” by Annalee Newitz Lilith Gallery (Toronto, Canada) Apr. 9, 2007. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
Trivia time! Where in the United States can you visit Soda City? If you answered Columbia, South Carolina, you’re right! This nickname apparently derives from an old practice of abbreviating Columbia as Cola. The locals then referred to the town as...
If you speak a second or third language, you may remember the first time you dreamed in that new tongue. But does this milestone mean you’re actually fluent? And a couple’s dispute over the word regret: Say you wish you’d been able...